MVP Health Care Announces Innovative Support Programs for Seniors

Health Insurer Investing in Nutrition, Telemedicine,
and Exercise Regiments for Older Population

MVP to Offer Medicare Advantage Plans in Seven New Counties in New York

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Michelle Golden

Schenectady, New York, October 1, 2019—MVP Health Care today announced that beginning on January 1, 2020, its Medicare Advantage members in New York and Vermont will be eligible for unique support programs that will work to improve their overall health and well-being. At the start of the new year, MVP’s Medicare Advantage members will be eligible for free meal delivery after an inpatient hospital admission, free telemedicine visits, free exercise classes, and up to a $100 reimbursement for completing health and wellness activities.

“Investing in and supporting our aging population is of utmost importance to MVP, especially as 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 every day,” said Christopher Del Vecchio, MVP Health Care’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our Medicare members have unique needs that require innovative approaches to keep them healthy and thriving in a setting that is comfortable to them. At MVP, we remain committed to providing comprehensive, high-quality, and cost-effective coverage that works to improve our member’s overall wellness, while at the same time, being supportive to our seniors so they can age actively through healthy lifestyle choices.”

Addressing social determinants of health, or the conditions in which people are born, live, grow, work, and age, has a substantial impact on a person’s overall well-being. In the senior population, social factors such as lack of nutrition, can significantly affect outcomes such as slower healing, increased risk of complications, longer hospital stays and higher readmission rates. Additionally, malnourished patients are two times more likely than well-nourished patients to be readmitted to the hospital. To curb this statistic, in partnership with Mom’s Meals—a leading national provider of tailored and healthy home-delivered meals—MVP will provide its Medicare Advantage members with 7 free lunches and 7 free dinners to assist with nutritional support during recovery from an in-patient hospitalization stay. The meal delivery program is designed to provide those who are recuperating at home with dietary assistance to aid in the healing process, remain healthy, and ultimately stay out of the hospital.

“There is an undeniable link between nutrition and wellness,” said Patrick Glavey, MVP Health Care’s Senior Leader for Medicare. “Not all readmissions are preventable, however, providing access to healthy food after discharge has proven to lower the chances a member will be readmitted. This unique benefit will not only improve outcomes for our members but will ultimately lead to lower costs.”

Medicare Advantage members can also utilize MVP’s telemedicine tool, myVisitNow, to connect with a doctor or other health care professional, such as a mental health counselor or psychologist, using a smartphone, a tablet, or a computer. Since 2018, MVP has seen not only a fivefold increase in myVisitNow usage by seniors, but 17% of all Medicare Advantage visits have been for behavioral health therapy or psychiatry needs. Investing in telemedicine has proven to be an effective way for seniors to access health care services, especially those in rural areas, and as a result, MVP will continue to offer access to myVisitNow at no cost to Medicare Advantage members.

Through a more than 15-year partnership with SilverSneakers, MVP’s Medicare Advantage members have enjoyed a free membership at over 16,000 gym locations across the country. SilverSneakers also gives members access to free benefits including group exercise classes, group social activities, health education seminars, and access to SilverSneakers On-Demand™ online workout videos. In addition to investing in their physical health, members who take care of their financial, social, and mind and spirit well-being, will be eligible to receive a $100 reward through MVP’s well-being program.

MVP Health Care is one of the largest Medicare Advantage plans in the region, with more than 65,000 members across New York State and Vermont. In 2020, MVP expects that number to increase because of new and exciting offerings and expansions such as:

  • Medicare Advantage coverage expanding to seven new counties in New York: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Clinton, Franklin, Hamilton, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties
  • A $0 Medicare Advantage plan that includes $0 co-pays for primary care visits, $0 preferred generic drugs, and an annual dental allowance. In 2018, this $0 option was the most sought-after plan in the Capital Region and the Hudson Valley, with more new enrollees than any other plan, across all insurers.
  • A comprehensive network of more than 23,000 providers
  • Worldwide coverage for urgent and emergency room care, including emergency hospitalization

The annual enrollment period for 2020 Medicare coverage begins on October 15, 2019 and runs through December 7, 2019. To learn more about MVP’s Medicare Advantage options visit joinMVPMedicare.com.

# # #

About MVP Health Care

MVP Health Care is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit health insurer caring for more than 700,000 members in New York and Vermont. Committed to the complete well-being of our members and the communities we serve, MVP makes health insurance more convenient, more supportive, and more personal. For more information, visit www.mvphealthcare.com, or on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.